Electric current flow interrupter



June 27, 1933. Q C, HolslNGTON ET AL 1,915,530

* ELECTRIC CURRENT FLOW INTERRUPTER Filed Sept. 25, 1931 Patented June27, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE GEORGE C. HOISINGTON, 0F COLTON,.AND OMER E. BR'UBAKER, OF SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA ELECTRIC CURRENTFLOW INTERRUPTER Application led September 23, 1931.

Our invention relates to an electric current flow interrupter and hasfor its principal objects, to generally improve upon and simplify theconstruction of the existing forms of similar devices, further, toprovide a current flow interrupter that is relatively simple inconstruction, inexpensive of manufacture, practically noiseless inoperation, very compact and further, to provide a device ofthevcharacter referred to that will, in operation, effect accurate andregular interruption of the current flow or make and break of thecircuit with which the device is used.

l/Vith the foregoing and other objects in view, our invention consistsin certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill hereinafter be more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a current flow interrupter constructedin accordance with our invention and with the brush sup` ports andholders in section.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawing which illustrates apractical embodiment of our invention, 10 designates a motor shaft onwhich is mounted a short cylindrical head or body 11, that is formed ofsuitable insulating material such as balelite, hard rubber, fibre or thelike and formed on one side of said rota-ry head is a centrally arrangedlug 12, in which is seated a set screw 13 and which latter whentightened secures the rotary head to the shaft 10.

Arranged on the periphery of the head 11 is a series of segments 14 ofmetal and the ends of which are spaced a slight distance apart to formgaps 15.

Projecting inwardly from the sides of the segments are ianges 16, whichoccupy corresponding grooves formed in the side faces 5 of the rotaryhead 11 and the outer faces of these flanges are flush with the sidefaces of the head. In order to accomplish the desired results there mustbe an even number of the segments 14, for instance, four, six, eight,ten or twelve or more. In the present instance we have shown the deviceprovided with Serial No. 564,576.

eight segments andy four of said segments are alternately connected toeach other by suitable electric conductors 17 and which arrangementleaves four alternately arranged segments that are not connected.

In order to produce the best results, the alternately arrangedelectrically connected segments are approximately equal in length andthey are made slightly longer than the independent or unconnectedsegments for the reason that when the interrupter is utilized inconnection with a induction coil it requires a fraction of a secondlonger to charge the induction coil than it does to discharge it.

The purpose of providing the independent segments between theelectrically connected segments is to provide an all metal path orsurface for the contact brushes that engage the outer faces of thesegments while the device is in operation.

Arranged on opposite sides of the rotary head are suitable standards orbrackets 18 and supported thereby are small cylindricalv housings 19 ofsuitable insulating material such as bakelite, hard rubber or fibre andsaid housings are arranged at diametrically opposite points immediatelyadjacent to the periphery of the rotary head.

Mounted for sliding movement in each housing 19 is a brush 20,preferably of copper gauze and arranged behind each brush is a smallexpansive spring 21 which normally eXerts pressure against the brush andmaintains the outer end thereof in contact with the metal surface of therotary head 11.

Where the interrupter is utilized in connection with an induction coil,one of the terminals of the primary winding of the induction coil isconnected to one side of the battery and the other side of the batteryis connected to one of the brushes 20. The opposite end of the primarywinding of the induction coil is electrically connected to the other oneof the brushes 20. These connections are illustrated diametrically inFig. 1. I

During the operation of the interrupter and while the brushes 20 are incontact with the electrically connected segments current from thestorage battery flows to the brush to which said battery is connected,from thence through the segment 14, with which the brush is in contact,thence through the conductors 17 and vconnected segments to theconnected segment with which the opposite brush is in contact, fromthence to the primary winding of the induction coil and from saidprimary winding back to the battery. s

As the interrupter continues to rotate and the independent segments makecontact with ihe brushes 20, the current flow from the battery throughthe device to the primary winding of the induction coil is interruptedand thus as the head 1l continues to rotate, the circuit from thestorage battery to the primary winding of the induction coil isinterrupted at a comparatively rapid rate, thus producing the desiredresults.

The use of independent segments between the electrically connectedsegments on the periphery of the rotary head 11 provides a practicallycontinuous metal path or surface Y for the brushes 20, therebyeliminating undue and uneven wear between the brushes and the surface ofthe rotary head and by making the ,.egments uniform in length, theinterrup tion of the current flow is brought about with accuracy ofregulation which is a desirable result in devices of the character towhich our invention relates.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided an electric current flowinterrupter that is simple in construction, very compact, inexpensive ofmanufacture and very effective in performing the functions for which itis intended.

It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of our improved electric current flowinterrupter, may be made and substituted for those herein shown anddescribed without departing from the spirit of our invention,` the scopeof which is set forth in the appended claim.

We claim as our invention:

455 In an electric current flow interrupter, a

rotary head, an even number of segments mounted on the periphery of saidhead, flanges projecting at right angles from the sides of saidsegments, which flanges occupy grooves formed in the side faces of therotary head adjacent to its periphery, the outer faces of which iiangesare flush with the side faces of the rotary head, alternate numbers ofsaid segments being electrically connected, the electrically connectedsegments being uniform in length and such length being greater than thelength of the unconnected segments and brushes engaging the outer facesof the segmets at diametrically opposite points. In testimony whereof,we affix our signaf tures.

GEORGE C. HOISINGTON. OMER E. BRUBAKER.

